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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'-Sheet 1.

A. W. WALKER.-

FOLDING GR ATE.

No. 354,846. Patented Dec. 21, 1886.

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(No Mode1.)

A. W. WALKER.

' FOLDING CRATE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 354,846. Patented Dec. 21, 1886.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ANOIL W. WALKER, OF DOUGLAS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To CHARLES E. BIRD, OF sAME PLACE. I

Fotome CRATE.

S PEC'IFIC'ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,846, dated December 21, 1886.

Application filed October 28, 1886. Serial No. 217,454. (No model.)

- tion, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 1

This invention relates to that class of devices variously known as folding, knockdown, or return crates.

The object of the invention is to produce a light inexpensive return-crate adapted to prevent the shifting or withdrawal of baskets or other packages contained within them.

My improved crate will be fully described in this'specilication and the novel features pointed out in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view showing my improved crate about to be closed. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the crate folded for return. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the center of the crate. I

The crate bottom A is composed of the end bars a a, side rails, (4 and flooring-slats a The floor-slats a and side rails, a consist of comparatively light pieces, and are secured rigidly to the end bars, a a, by suitable means, said end bars and side rails extending up a little distance above the floorslats and forming a raised sill.

The cratetop B is substantially similar in construction to the bottom A, except that said top B is provided centrally with a cross-bar, B, (one or more,) and the end bars, b b, are rabbeted, as at b, said rabbets terminating in a plane with the exposed face of the crossbar B.

The crate end or end section, 0, is composed of two side rails or standards, 0, connected at their ends with the end bars, a and b, of. the top and bottom by pivot-bolts, c, as shown, a brace-rail, 0 being rigidly connected at its ends with said standards to render the end sections more rigid.

The crate end or free end sectionDis composed of the standards (Z and brace-rail d said standards being connected at their lower ends to the ends of the bottom end bar, a, by pivot-bolts d, and provided at their upper ends with longitudinal notches d, to engage pins or studs 12, proj ecting outwardly from the top end bar, b. Upon the engagement of the studs b with the notches cl the free end section,

D, is to be secured to thetop B by a hook and staple, (Z 12 or other well-known means.

The crate which I have illustrated in-the drawings is more especially designed to facili- 6 5 tate the handling and transportation of fruit and the like contained in baskets and in praotice' I arrange each crate to hold a certain. number of baskets, say four or six.

The crate is unfolded to its full extent and the baskets placed side by side on the floorslats a in rows. The side a is now raised and the top B folded over, the cross-bar B and rabbets b resting upon opposite sides of the I top rims of the baskets, thus holding said 7 5 baskets firmly between said bars B and rabbets If and the floor-slats a I claim 1. In a return-crate, the combination, substantially as before set forth, of the bottom, the end sections connected "thereto by pivot-bolts, the top connected to one of the end sections by pivot-bolts, and provided with studs arranged to engage notches in the free end section, and

a locking device to secure the free end section 85.

to the top.

2. In a return-crate, the combination, substantially as before set forth, of the bottom, the end sections, the top having a cross-bar and rabbeted end bars, and a locking device 0 to connect the free end section to the top.

3. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the bottom having projecting sills, the top provided with a cross-bar and rabbeted end bars, and sills projecting beyond 5 said cross-bar and rabbets, the end sections, and a locking device to secure the free end section to the top.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature' in presence of two witnesses.

. ANOIL W. WVALKER.

Witnesses:

L. A. PHELPS, GHARLEs E. BIRD. 

